Kingsley Gate Partners Appoints Global HR Practice Leader

June 12, 2018 – Executive search firm Kingsley Gate Partners continues its recent expansion with the addition of Mike Bergen as a senior partner and global human resources practice leader. He will be based out of the firm’s New York office.

His expertise spans a variety of industries, geographies and functions with an exceptional track record placing executives in the human resources function.

“When looking for just the right person for a business critical hire, Mike’s distinct expertise in recruiting top HR talent and his exceptional reputation as a talent advisor to countless senior HR executives, will enhance our ability to offer our transformational services to our clients,” said Buster Houchins, senior partner in the office of the CEO with Kingsley Gate Partners. “We’re thrilled to have someone of Mike’s caliber join our team and look forward to his many contributions on behalf of our clients and candidates.”

Mr. Bergen previously led the U.S. business for Allegis Partners and was the global practice leader for the firm’s human resources practice, as well as a member of the CEO & board practice. Prior to that, he was with Korn Ferry, serving as a senior client partner in the HR practice as well as contributing senior client partner in the global sports practice. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bergen founded the Bergen Briller Group, an HR executive search and talent consulting firm that he led for more than 12 years. Before joining the executive search industry, he held senior HR leadership roles at GE, Citibank and Cigna.

Founded in 2006, Kingsley Gate recruits senior leadership for private equity and venture capital portfolio businesses and Fortune 100 companies. Headquartered in Dallas, the firm employs consultants and recruiters with expertise in private equity, life sciences, technology manufacturing and professional services. It works with clients such as Best Buy, CenturyLink, Ernst & Young, Here, Ford, Ingram Micro, Medtronic, Neustar, Veritas and Warburg Pincus.

Continued Expansion

Recently, the firm named Lindsey Burton as a vice president. She is based in the New York office. As a member of the firm’s financial services practice, Ms. Burton also supports business development and candidate identification across financial services and technology. Ms. Burton has a background within the financial services sector, including a focus on placing senior executives within investment banking, private equity and portfolio companies. She previously served as a consultant for Korn Ferry.

Kingsley Gate Partners also expanded with the additions of Jim Thompson, Victor Kleinman and Alison Woodhead as senior partners. Dr. Thompson previously served as a partner with Somerville Partners, a management consulting firm that applies the science of psychology to business challenges. Mr. Kleinman had been EVP and managing director of the life sciences practice at DHR International, where he worked closely with companies to recruit senior leadership teams, extending his involvement and collaboration across every stage of organizational growth. Prior to joining Kingsley Gate, Ms. Woodhead was a senior client partner at Morgan Samuels, and was responsible for securing, leading and executing retained executive search and talent consulting assignments on a global basis.

The firm also launched a new practice serving the financial services industry. The effort is led by two new senior partners, Mark Esposito and Paige Scott, who both recently joined Kingsley Gate, also from Sheffield Haworth. With more than two decades of experience in the executive search industry, both Mr. Esposito and Ms. Scott bring financial services expertise and industry market intelligence to the firm. Kingsley Gate opened offices in New York and San Francisco recently to support the firm’s continued growth and expansion initiatives.